IRANIAN CENTER joins NBA
n need of a rebounder and shot blocker, the Memphis Grizzlies turned to Iran for help.
Just over a week after receiving U.S. government approval to sign an Iranian player, the Grizzlies inked center Hamed Haddadi on Thursday.
Memphis would not release the terms of the deal, but the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports that the contract is worth the equivalent to that of a mid first-round pick.
The 7-foot-2, 254-pound Haddadi led all Olympians in Beijing in rebounding (11.2) and blocks (2.6) while averaging 16.6 points in five games for Iran, which did not advance to the medal round. Haddadi, who was not selected in the 2004 NBA Draft, drew the interest of several NBA teams when the Iranian team competed against NBA teams this summer in Utah.
“[Haddadi] is a young center who was very productive as a rebounder, shot blocker and scorer at the Rocky Mountain Revue Summer League in Salt Lake City, Utah, the 2008 Olympics and the FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament in Nanjing, China prior to the Olympics," Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace said. "Our coaching staff is eager to begin working with Hamed.”
The 23-year-old Haddadi, who spent the 2007-08 season playing for Saba Battery BC in the Iranian Super League, could become the first Iranian to play in the NBA.
Haddadi was not the only international player signed by an NBA team this week.
